Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

George McMillan testified Monday that he had no recollection of any inappropriate behavior toward female employees.

Updates

• McMillan trial continues with testimony from female employees

Former Roanoke Sheriff George McMillan offered a simple defense Monday as a long-running sexual harassment complaint finally came before a jury: He didn't do it.

McMillan -- who attorney Terry Grimes said was nicknamed the "grope-alope" by his employees -- was the first witness called as Grimes began presenting Lespia King's case in federal court.

The trial's first day included testimony from three other women who said McMillan harassed them, and Grimes said his client was so bothered by the sheriff that she hid under desks or locked herself in a bathroom to avoid him.

The case is scheduled to resume this morning and to conclude by Wednesday.

McMillan appeared at ease before a jury panel of seven women and one man. He said he never kissed King, made her sit in his lap or grabbed her buttocks, all incidents that Grimes described in his opening statement.

"I just can't ever recall trying to hug Lessa King," he added.

Grimes was able to introduce testimony from other women who said McMillan treated them improperly. The defense has tried to block such statements since King filed her complaint almost two and a half years ago. In May, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled against six women who wanted to join the case.

But on Monday, after lengthy discussions with attorneys -- and short testimony, out of the hearing of jurors, from King -- U.S. District Judge Samuel Wilson said he'd allow the women's evidence if it related closely to King's experience.

Jennifer Donovan, the public relations officer for the sheriff's office from January to October 2002, said that during her job interview McMillan told her whoever was hired "would be like his mistress" and that people would talk about how close they were.

She said she took the job despite misgivings and was subjected to offensive comments almost daily. She said McMillan frequently talked about women's bodies and told Donovan she was hired despite another candidate's having larger breasts. She testified that he twice touched her in ways that made her uncomfortable.

She said when she told McMillan his behavior was unacceptable, he responded that her job performance was unsatisfactory. He told her to file a complaint with the city but predicted nothing would happen because he was "higher than God," she said.

Rachel Wylie, who is still a deputy, testified that McMillan often hugged her and tried to kiss her on the lips. He would squeeze her legs and say how strong they were, she said, adding that she never saw the sheriff act like that with male deputies.

Former Deputy Rhonda Johnson needed to compose herself as she related how McMillan called her into his office and told her she had a nice behind and should show it off. The sheriff put his hand on her inner thigh, she said, and she moved his hand away.

McMillan was unable to respond Monday to the testimony because it came after his time on the stand. He emphasized that King, who resigned in 2004 and now works for the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office, never told him his behavior disturbed her.

McMillan said he could not recall an episode in which he allegedly touched King's waist while adjusting her gun belt.

He did remember a regional jail association dinner where he put his arm around her and said he wanted to make her boyfriend jealous, but he said he had been joking. He said he did not tell her to dump her boyfriend, also a deputy, and have a relationship with him.

In their openings, the two defense attorneys, one representing McMillan and the other the sheriff's office, said McMillan's behavior was appropriate and well within the bounds of usual behavior.

Attorney John Gibney called the case "really two trials going on at the same time." McMillan is accused in a civil assault and battery complaint of inappropriately touching King. There also is a sexual harassment claim against the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Octavia Johnson, a longtime officer who had two hard-fought campaigns against McMillan before winning the sheriff's position in 2005, is named in the case as a representative of the sheriff's office but is not accused of any personal wrongdoing.